Saturday, September 06, 2008

democrats v. republicans

HIV/AIDS

Democrats: We must fight HIV/AIDS in our country and around the world. We support increased funding into research, care and prevention of HIV/AIDS, and support providing Medicaid coverage to more low-income HIV-positive Americans.

Internationally, the platform calls HIV/AIDS "a massive human tragedy. It is also a security risk of the highest order that threatens to plunge nations into chaos. There are an estimated 33 million people across the planet infected with HIV/AIDS, including more than 1 million people in the U.S. We must do more to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well as malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases. We will provide $50 billion over five years to strengthen existing U.S. programs and expand them to new regions of the world, including Southeast Asia, India, and parts of Europe, where the HIV/AIDS burden is growing. We will increase U.S. contributions to the Global Fund to ensure that global efforts to fight endemic disease continue to move ahead."

Republicans: The Republican platform states that in Africa, "HIV/AIDS threatens to destabilize entire societies through large numbers of orphaned youths. In response, the U.S. has become the unrivaled leader in fighting the diseases that are the scourge of much of the continent." After noting its good track record on spending to fight global disease and poverty, the platform says that "maternal and child health, especially safer childbirthing and nutrition, must be priorities, especially in countries affected by epidemics of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis."


Human Trafficking

Democrats: "We will address human trafficking--both labor and sex trafficking--through strong legislation and enforcement to ensure that trafficking victims are protected and traffickers are brought to justice. We will also address the root causes of human trafficking, including poverty, discrimination, and gender inequality, as well as the demand for prostitution."

Republicans: "Generations after the end of slavery in America, new forms of bondage have emerged to exploit men, women and children. We salute those across the political spectrum who have come together to end the commerce in our fellow human beings. We advocate the establishment of an Inter-Agency Task Force on Human Trafficking, reporting directly to the President, and call for increased diplomatic efforts with foreign governments that have been negligent toward this evil. The principle underlying our Megan's Law--publicizing the identities of known offenders--should be extended to international travel in order to protect innocent children everywhere."

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